Have a whale of a time in South Africa

With summer arriving in the southern hemisphere, now is the perfect time to head for the sunnier climes of South Africa where the whale watching season is in full swing.

Somak Holidays has launched a new e-brochure highlighting its latest, best and all-time-classic holidays to South Africa. Experiences range from whale watching tours to luxury ten-man safari lodges.

South Africa is home to some of the world’s best whale watching and until the end of November visitors have the chance to see the impressive Southern Right Whale. Each year between June and November the enigmatic mammals make their way from the Atlantic to the Cape’s West Coast, a spectacular sight to be enjoyed from both land and sea.

Somak Holidays’ ‘Wine, Waves and Wildlife’ trip takes its guests on a tour of South Africa’s greatest sights and gives them a chance to sample what this diverse country does best – wine and wildlife.

The first two nights are spent in cosmopolitan Cape Town where clients will enjoy a city tour, a visit to the Cape of Good Hope and the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. The next day is spent in Stellenbosch sampling the region’s fine wines before continuing to Mossel Bay along the Garden Route. The first whale-watching encounter is on a cruise from Plettenberg Bay where guests can spot whales before heading on to the Tsitsikamma National Park. An overnight stay is made in Addo Elephant Park, where two game drives to see the “big five” are included, before heading back to Port Elizabeth to catch the flight home.

Departures are on 2, 16 & 30 October and 13 & 27 November 2008. Prices start from £1,439 per person and this includes return flights from the UK, eight nights’ accommodation, tours in Cape Town, wine tasting and two malaria-free game drives.

For large families or groups of friends travelling together, Somak Holidays is pleased to offer ‘The Homestead’ at the Kariega Game Reserve, as part of its three-day ‘Eastern Cape Safari Extension' as featured in the new e brochure.

‘The Homestead’ is a newly restored, 100 year-old farmhouse for ten people in five en-suite bedrooms. Guests can luxuriate in the lavish facilities including a bar, satellite television, playroom and private swimming pool, all whilst enjoying the exquisite view from this remote part of the reserve.

Adventures outside of this peaceful seclusion include early morning cruises down the Kariega River and exhilarating morning and evening game drives lead by an experienced game ranger in The Homestead’s own 4X4 safari vehicle.

The ‘Eastern Cape Safari Extension’ is ideal for those already taking a holiday in Cape Town or along the Garden Route, as access is very easy from Port Elizabeth and it is malaria-free.

Prices start from £365 per person and this includes two nights’ accommodation at the Kariega Game Reserve, all meals and four game drives with experienced rangers.

For more information or to book go to Somak.co.uk.